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Purdue Extension seeks modest equipment cuts and outlines 4‑H capital priorities for 2026
Summary
The county’s Purdue Extension director requested a $3,500 equipment reduction and described proposed 4‑H fairground capital improvements including an ADA sidewalk, community‑building roof repairs, guttering and horse arena maintenance.
Laurie Balsloff, county extension director for Purdue Extension, asked budget reviewers to reduce an equipment and maintenance agreement line from $14,500 to $11,000 (a $3,500 decrease) and requested increases in teaching‑supply lines for Agriculture & Natural Resources and Health & Human Sciences programming.
Balsloff and a 4‑H council representative outlined capital improvement requests for the fairgrounds to be projected in 2026: an ADA sidewalk connecting parking near the Swine Barn to the community‑building entrance, new guttering for barns and other buildings, repair of a leaking community‑building roof and yearly maintenance for the horse arena. The 4‑H council treasurer provided the list to staff during the hearing.
Why it matters: Balsloff said Health & Human Sciences funds are the only discretionary money extension staff can use to purchase curriculum and program supplies and that $700 per year does not stretch far. She said 4‑H membership has grown about 105% since before COVID and that expansion drives supply and capital needs.
Nut graf: Purdue Extension requested a small equipment cut and asked the county to consider 4‑H capital projects in 2026 as the program grows; staff indicated the fair board may be scheduled separately to discuss fair entertainment and final capital priorities.
Additional details: Balsloff said she times some purchases (curriculum and programming incentives) to coincide with national conferences and program cycles, and that collaboration with the county health department helps recruit participants and occasionally helps pay registration fees for limited‑resource participants. The extension director provided an annual report and said the 4‑H program year starts Oct. 1 (programming evaluation due May 31).
Ending: County staff accepted the requested equipment reduction for the extension budget and indicated they would follow up with fair‑board representatives about 4‑H fair expenditures and entertainment.
